Explosive composition



Patented June 7, 1949 TNT OFFICE EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITION George C. Hale,Dover, N. J.

No Drawing. Application October 30, 1943, Serial No. 508,387

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me ofany royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an explosive.

The explosive, ethylenedinitramine, covered by U. S. Patent 2,011,578granted to me, has a melting point of approximately 175 C. which makesimpracticable the loading of this explosive into shell or bombs bycasting methods. This constitutes a definite limitation on the practicalapplication of the explosive in ammunition components since many ofthese cannot be loaded economically by pressing or tamping the explosivecharge to give the high density required.

I have discovered that ethylenedinitramine is only slightly soluble intrinitrotoluene (TNT) and that mixtures of the two explosives can beprepared which can be loaded by the usual casting methods employed inloading shell and bombs. Mixtures containing more than 40% TNT with theremainder ethylenedinitramine can be rendered sufficiently fluid uponheating with low pressure steam, such as in the neighborhood of 25 lbs.pressure or less to permit pouring of the composition into any standardtype of shell or bomb. In this composition at the casting temperature90-100 0., ethylenedinitramine is in suspension in the liquid TNT whichserves as a vehicle or carrier for the crystalline or granulardinitramine. Upon cooling in the bomb Or shell, the charge solidifies toa compact mass having a density of about 1.60.

I have found from extensive tests that the casting compositioncontaining 58% ethylenedinitramine and 42% TNT is not only practicablefrom the standpoint of loading by casting methods but is an explosivehaving certain special properties which render it highly favorable forgeneral military use as a bursting charge. When '3" A. A. shell wereloaded with the casting composition and fired using the standard fuze,the average total number of fragments produced was 584 as compared to atotal of 413 given by shell of the same lot loaded with TNT. This showsthat the new explosive has much higher brisance or fragmenting effectthan TNT, the increase in number of effective fragments beingapproximately 41% over that given by TNT.

The stability of the explosive is entirely satisfactory as shown by thefact that there was no ignition, no fuming or other indication ofinstability when samples were heated at 100 C. for 100 hours.

Extensive tests to determine the sensitivity of the new explosive showedthat it did not detonate under the steel shoe in the standard pendulumfriction test and was not ignited or detonated by rifle fire whensubjected to the standard rifle bullet impact test. This explosivecomposition containing ethylenedinitramine and TNT is the only explosiveknown to me which has higher brisant efiects than TNT and yet does notdetonate when subjected to impact of a rifle bullet under the standardtest conditions. This property is most unusual and of considerableimportance from the standpoint of military use.

In addition to the favorable properties above mentioned the newexplosive composition does not absorb moisture from the air underextreme conditions of temperature and humidity and has shown no reactionwhen in contact with aluminum, steel and brass after exposure for morethan 20 months in surveillance chambers maintained at C.

While I have indicated that a composition comprising about 58% ofethylenedinitramine and 42% of TNT is a preferred composition forgeneral use as a bursting charge, it is recognized that in particularammunition components it is sometimes advisable to sacrifice withrespect to one particular property of an explosive in order to obtainsome special effect. Thus, the high brisance of the 58/42 compositionmay not be an essential requirement in a particular application but agreater degree of insensitivity is of importance. I have found that suchcan be obtained by increasing the TNT in the composition above 42%. Suchmixtures of higher TNT content are as readily adaptable to loadingconditions, are less sensitive to shock and friction and are inferior tothe preferred composition only with respect to brisance or shatteringeiTect.

I claim:

1. An explosive composition comprising a mixture of ethylenedinitramineand trinitrotoluene in which the trinitrotoluene forms over 40 percentof said mixture and the ethylenedinitramine constitutes the remainder ofsaid mixture.

2. An explosive composition, which is sufficiently fluid at about 90-100C. to be cast, comprising a mixture of about 58 parts ofethylenedinitramine and about 42 parts of trinitrotoluene.

3. An explosive composition consisting of 58 parts ofethylenedinitramine and 42 parts of trinitrotoluene.

4. A castable explosive composition formed by heating more than 40 percent of trinitrotoluene with ethylenedinitramine.

5. A fluid suitable for pouring into cavities of explosive missilescomprising more than 40 percent of trinitrotoluene and the remainderethylenedinitramine.

GEORGE C. HALE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hale Aug. 20, 1935 OTHER REFERENCESNumber

